As we approach the end of 2013, there appears to be hope on the horizon with the expected completion of the new Morgan Street bridge.

The bridge looks sleek and accommodating for mobile and foot traffic. My prayer is that the bridge that took ages to move from vision to reality will provide a hopeful spur for commerce, neighborhood connection and renewal.

Rockford needs something to celebrate. This bridge is a result of city, county and state collaboration.

I have several hopes for the surrounding area on both sides of the bridge. I am sure that the people who live and travel that corridor have even more ideas about what will restore hope.

What will the city and county governments do to ensure that vital businesses are erected alongside the east and west sides of the bridge? Have the residents surrounding the bridge been asked their opinions?

Perhaps our government officials should visit Madison, Peoria, Elgin and Dubuque to see what local governments and commercial firms developed to attract startup businesses, tourists and families to the local watersides. The Rock River in south Rockford is an unused treasure at this time, and we need community-minded visionaries that will humbly ask the indigenous people what they need to enjoy hope, security, recreation and basic services.

Their responses might not surprise us. They might collectively say, "We, the citizens of southeast and southwest Rockford, need public servants who will attract wholesome restaurants, dry cleaners, shoe shops, clothing shops, hardware stores and family-centered commerce. The starting point for that kind of community development would naturally fit along both sides of the Morgan Street bridge and the Rock River.

I urge interested citizens to call Rockford City Hall to request that town hall meetings be held before the end of 2013 so that updated initiatives can be shared on the city of Rockford's development plans for the Morgan Street bridge corridor. I hope there is a plan. If there is no plan, now would be a great time to gain community input and to build consensus.

We need to ask ourselves this question, "What is God saying about how the Morgan Street bridge can restore hope and vitality to a long underserved area of Rockford?" The completion of the Morgan Street bridge in 2013 is only a down payment on a community redevelopment check that still remains unissued for the people of southeast and southwest Rockford. As the story line goes in an old movie, "If you build it, they will come. ..."

Thanks to our city, county and state governments for working together to compete this much-needed bridge, which should inspire hope, build community pride and hopefully inspire urban renewal. Perhaps Box's Bar-B-Que or another startup can place a smokehouse restaurant at the foot of the bridge. There is nothing like excellent barbeque to bring people and resources together.

Page 2 of 2 - I would be the first in line to place my order for a smoked turkey sandwich.

The Rev. Dr. Kenneth Board is the senior pastor of Pilgrim Baptist Church of Rockford and an adjunct seminary professor at Northern Seminary in Lombard. He also is a community member of the Rockford Register Star Editorial Board.